Anyone have any further information on this watch? I just purchased it and am looking forward to cleaning it up! I’d like to replace the crystal to start with and find the correct leather strap. Does anyone have a source for a crystal for this model? The case number is SL 166.026. Accordingly to my reading it has a 565 movement. Thanks all!

 

Crystal is 063PZ5123.

Cheers, Al

 

Outstanding! Thanks for the info!

 

Hi and welcome here!

if you do an internet search for "166.026" + "omegaforums" you will find a lot of input on this reference.

Hands look wrong to me but I'm no expert on this reference.

Good luck

 

Thanks for the response! Just did a deep dive into the forums. It looks like the hands are correct, but the watch was possibly re-dialed sometime in the past. I know Omega used a few different dials during the production run, but I haven’t found any that have the same markings as this one.

I also noticed that while some of the watches came stock with beads of rice bands, this one doesn’t look original, so I’ll keep my eye out for a NOS replacement.

 

The dial looks original to me.

 

They seem to be correct indeed.

Found other examples with the knurled hour indices, they have the same kind of hands.

Seem to be not so common...

 

Nice. I love the Cosmic. I have a similar one and a grey one. They wear nicely. You have a good project at hand. Good luck.

 

Does anyone know the actual distance between the lugs? I’ve seen in referred to as both 18 and 19mm in different posts.

 

If you have a harbor freight near you, go pick up a cheap digital caliper. https://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-composite-digital-caliper-63586.html

I was watching the same auction, I want to pick up a cosmic at some point.

 

166.026 is 19mm, at least all of the ones I've had were.

 

I’ve got a set of calipers, just don’t have the watch yet! The listing listed them as 17mm lug to lug, but I’m not sure I trust that. Guess I better wait and measure it myself before ordering a new band.

 

The dial is original but I doubt you will be able to "clean it up". A skilled watchmaker can sometimes remove surface dirt, but most of it looks like water damage which can't be fixed without redialling.

 

Received the watch, and you were dead on. 19mm it is!

 

The residue on the dial at 11 and between 6 and 8 looks like a perished rubberised gasket. As the case is a top loader I'm not sure if these watches had a gasket as I've never looked inside (don't have the tool). But if it is gasket that should come away cleanly. As Edward53 says there is a limit to what can be cleaned up and I strongly suggest you don't try it yourself unless you know what you are doing. There is a hint of water damage ( like mine) , I believe you have a classic 565 movement under the hood. Here's my beaten up one with original "brick" bracelet.

 

I don't usually like patina but I do like that mushroom colour the dial has turned to and the contrasting date wheel colour.

 

ah the date wheel.sharp eye you have there...not original to the movement...The original was too far gone..water damage I think(same effect on the dial). Had to get a vintage replacement and didn't think of the colour at the time. looks good though.